Carl Rittner founded his Boston School of Floral Design nearly seven decades ago, with a vision of inspiring students to see floral design as a legitimate art form. Recognized as a pioneer in the industry and a true visionary, Rittner was adored by his students, who were eager to find a meaningful way to honor him.  Floral Design Day was instituted on February 28th, 1995, designated an official Boston celebration. However, the idea has since spread across the country. The day is seen as an opportunity for the industry to recognize their own professionals, who use their artistic talent and creative imagination to make the world a little more beautiful every day. 

Floral design is a truly free-flowing art form, with inspiration coming from every direction. Throughout history, customs and societal norms have influenced design of all kinds – and the artistic concepts of color, texture, line and space are explored with each bouquet. Here are just a few examples of how culture has had an effect on the gorgeous floral design you see even today.

The Victorian Era: Romantic, over-the-top, and lavish, the Victorian culture may have looked proper on the surface but passionate sentiments were always close to the surface. Flowers were used to convey secret messages love. Bouquets reminiscent of this era are lush mixtures of wildflowers and garden flowers, designed beautifully but with a hint of a wild side.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco: These two cultural movements affected architecture, industrial product design, and fashion. While both relied on geometric looks and were defined by their lines, the similarity ended there. Art Nouveau exhibited “violent curves” and sweeping fluidity, such as with orchids and curly willow; while Art Deco showcased sharp lines and angles, most prevalent in tropical flowers such as bamboo and birds of paradise.

There are hundreds of influences in floral design, not the least of which is the talent and imagination of the designer. If you are looking for a unique design not found anywhere else, stop by Julia’s Florist in Wilmington and let’s talk. After all, design, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.